Several attempts to get this thing going have failed, i tell myself this is due to work commitments, a young family, too many bikes to maintain etc...but it's probably laziness.

Two years of trying and weeds come and go and then my dad hires himself as 'site manager' He has finally retired and is very much under mum's feet so he fetches out his very sharp poking stick and we are off!

Picture 1 - circa Spring 2011....Comrade Grumpy toils on the land whilst the hired help downs tools and buggers off

Picture 2 - circa Spring 2011....ooooohh i love weeds.

More to follow....including photos of the current receding glaciers, a mountain of slabs and a flamethrower.

Joined: Fri Nov 16, 2012 7:08 pmPosts: 1254Location: I know where the stash is – the secret's safe with me. The flying squad will never find us...

Hi, very refreshing to find this thread.Me and the Lady went to the RHS show at Westminster today trawling for books, seeds, species plant porn and gin tasting. Had our usual catch up with our great friend running the Pennard Plants stall there, and came away with some fabs seeds, and bags of rhubarb crowns. Neighbours go mad for our rhubarb, not realising how easy and cheap it is to grow – previously, they usually buy a few overpriced wrapped sticks from the stores. Our allotment in Enfield is still stricken with the encroaching Siberian permafrost and will probably revert back to the normal Somme-like conditions, if it ever thaws out. Meanwhile, we have been consoling our selves with putting up some plastic mini greenhouses in the back garden, in the hope of a seed sowing frenzy, but I fear that for another year yet again, time is running out for the dream of a bumper crop of tomatoes. Our hens (the old dears social club who live at the bottom of the garden, scaring the cats) were most curious of the new green houses, probably hoping to roost in them.When the allotment is workable again, there's going to have to be one hell of a clearing and digging frenzy – heat patches and supports for the back at the ready. I'm hoping to have the bike fixed up soon, so I can there easily on a whim, otherwise it's the bus and a long walk to the site gates. Had a quick visit there to drop off some boards and compost 2 weeks back with hire van and it was a foreboding sight. And I will be very much in need of a bottomless pile of compost and manure.In the meantime, I'm posting a few pics...

Howard.

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_________________Clockwork A309 A0163

Wanted: 26.8mm Orange or Zoom seatpost and Onza RCR 160 Bar Ends (preferably both polished silver). Oh, and an end to 'The Struggle'.

Joined: Fri Nov 16, 2012 7:08 pmPosts: 1254Location: I know where the stash is – the secret's safe with me. The flying squad will never find us...

Evening or is it morning now?Thanks Karl. Those are indeed wood forget-me-knots, on the approach to our plot, taking over from a neighbours' plot, last year. We were very lucky to get a plot there quickly, shortly after moving house into the area. Previously, 5 yrs back now, we lived in another part of Enfield with a plot 5 mins walk away on a large barren windswept site by the scenic A10, at the top end of Tottenham. We were plagued by infighting, feuds, vandals, arsonists, thieves. One time there, I was working out of sight on my plot, the site more or less empty. The site sec and his few cronies were around and thought they were the only ones there that day. Out of view, I watched them walk around all the plots helping themselves to whatever they fancied. That was the last straw.The plot we have now, in the photo, is on a beautiful site, full of wildlife. It's a long strip of land on a north-south axis framed by mature woodland borders on all sides, between a long row of 30's semis and the Moorgate to Hertford rail line high above us on an embankment. To get in, you have to go to the very end of a long avenue off the main route, past the edge of golf course (which has the sparse remains of motte and bailey mound in the middle of it). It's the sort of place you would never know was there, so it's quite safe. There's a good diverse crowd there too, who look out for each other.The plot is in a sorry state now (see 4th photo down), haven't been able to get there much. I crashed off my bike last September commuting home Wimbledon to Enfield. I was going through South Bank when I fell foul of a crevice in the road, whilst avoiding traffic. I came off, smashed and twisted my knee on a bollard, so was out of action for 3 months. I'm slowly restoring the bike, with the aim of getting back on it by the end of April – I'm sadly confined to expensive public transport at the moment. I can then build up my fitness by biking to the allotment. I'm so out of shape, my lady calls me "beetle belly", as I resemble the fat meerkat off the adverts, apparently. The cheek of it!The trip to RHS westminster this week was inspiring – I feel impatient to get cracking on the allotment and make something of it. Your line "several attempts to get this thing going have failed" really does strikes a chord. Also, your picture with the "hired help" is great – he certainly knows where his skills are most needed!

Btw, does allotment talk feel like a dangerous subversive and revolutionary act on Retrobike?

H

_________________Clockwork A309 A0163

Wanted: 26.8mm Orange or Zoom seatpost and Onza RCR 160 Bar Ends (preferably both polished silver). Oh, and an end to 'The Struggle'.

Sounds like you have been though the wringer a little but your new plot looks an absolute corker. Are you planning on getting anything in this year? The 'site manager' and Mrs Grumpy have been in charge of planting decisions here, i'm labourer, head skivvy and in charge of companion-planting

Theres load of people on here who can help you fix that bike up and get you on the road again. Have you got anyone to help you shift all the stuff off the plot?

I'm off for a days allotmenting tomorrow....Yaaayyyyyyy!!! Piccies later

Joined: Fri Nov 16, 2012 7:08 pmPosts: 1254Location: I know where the stash is – the secret's safe with me. The flying squad will never find us...

A little bit of a wringer, you could say .

Thanks – the plot is a corker though . When we got it, it was the plot no one wanted to take on, mostly covered by a 6ft high forest of bramble. We soon levelled it, then people realised its true worth

Been down there checking it over today – got a hire van for Easter. Took all the garden waste and chicken's compost down to add to the mix. Had several runs to Tottenham's premier department store Ikea too. Scavenged all the vast bits of cardboard from the discarded packaging people couldn't squeeze in their cars. The stuff makes an ace base for mulching and instant raised beds. Highly recommended. The old boys use carpet, but that is a pain to dig out when its weave rots into the ground. Picked up lots of 6mm thick sheets of polystyrene from Ikea too – going to use this in cold frames and to line the interior of our plot's 'command centre'.

Going to have an allotment frenzy this weekend to catch up. Got to dig out last year's spuds out, then clear and dig over – mammoth task . Basically, it will be me doing most things. The knee occasionally gives me gyp, but it's going in the right direction, I think. As long I'm warm, strapped up and don't do anything rash (like step on a hidden rake) I should manage fine. Missus can keep the tea brewing in the 'command centre'

Got new spuds chitting and got some seeds sown. Onions, garlic waiting in the wings. Got various new raspberry canes and rhubarb. I'm not holding out for a bumper crop of tomatoes from this year – last year's never happened as it was too wet and not enough hot sunlight. This year, winter has dragged on far too long.

Is your 'site manager' the young 'un in your photos? With us, the missus is the enthusiast and I'm Mr Happy (Grumpy, old Northern git) or "silly old Hector" (from Hector's House). I know it's time to hide when I the hear words: "I've been thinking...". I know then that my list of jobs to do has just grown exponentially. When your tundra has de-camped elsewhere, what are planning to put in?

Retrobike has been a goldmine, and a god send when I was out of action in plaster. I got the frame stripped/dipped/blasted, then powder coated. It feels way lighter and chimes like a bell when you tap it. The concave rims/wheels are well 'wigged' after 20 yrs, so need a new set at some point. Ended up having to destructively remove the cranks, so it's time for a new chainset too. Likewise saddle, twisted in the crash. Gil 'M' Montague on here did some fabulous new decals, which are now applied. Gil is out of action himself at the moment, after a bike-related incident – hopefully he's recovering well.

I'm hoping to document the bike rebuild, and also the progress on the allotment. But first, a cup of tea, and some biccies...

Enjoy your day's allotmenteering – take some pic if you can.

Howard

_________________Clockwork A309 A0163

Wanted: 26.8mm Orange or Zoom seatpost and Onza RCR 160 Bar Ends (preferably both polished silver). Oh, and an end to 'The Struggle'.

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